Single or multiple stage bottom hole well pump

ABSTRACT

A simplified bottom hole pump having a tubular plunger forming a valve cage and having means for connecting the plunger to the pump rod string which also serves as end members for the valve cage, and communication is provided between the interior of the plunger and the annular space around the pump rod string by means of inclined apertures in the sides of the end extension connecting means. A reciprocable valve is disposed within the valve cage and is provided with radially spaced apart guide fins.

llnited States Patent 1191 Smith et a1.

[ 1 SINGLE OR MULTIPLE STAGE BOTTOM HOLE WELL PUMP [75] Inventors: E. D.Smith; Robert C. Knight, Denver, C010.

[73] Assignee: Super-Macey Enterprises, Inc.,

Colorado Springs, C010.

[22] Filed: Feb. 19, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 12,719

52 us. 01. Q. 417/552 [51] 1 llnt. Cl. F041) 21/02 [58] Field of Search417/259-262, 417/552, 455, 554; 251/120; 137/331, 533.17

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 433,019 7/1890 Morris 92/169753,828 1/1904 Hann 137/5333] 1,388,602 8/1921 Rotteleur 417/2611,640,408 8/1927 House 137/533.17 1,943,276 1/1934 Miller 137/3312,006,592 7/1933 Freeman 417/261 2,053,917 9/1936 Mowrey 417/5542,643,090 6/1953 Cluphf 417/552 A V W July 9,1974

Primary ExaminerWilliam L. Freeh Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Richard W.Hanes [5 7] ABSTRACT A simplified bottom hole pump having a tubularplunger forming a valve cage and having means for connecting the plungerto the pump rod string which also serves as end members for the valvecage, and communication is provided between the interior of the plungerand the annular space around the pump rod 1 string by means of inclinedapertures in the sides of the end extension connecting means. Areciprocable valve is disposed within the valve cage and is provided-with radially spaced apart guide fins.

2 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures A waawllm PATENTED L SHEET]. 0F 2 IINVENTORS o at pn' 4' BY, N

ATTORNEY PATENTED JUL 91874 SHEET 2 0F 2 ill SINGLE OR MULTIPLE STAGEBO'I'IUM HOLE WELL PUMP Other and still further objects, features andadvantages of the pump and pump system of the present invention willbecomeapparent upon a reading of the following detailed description ofthe preferred form of the invention taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagramatic cross-sectional view of a well showing thetubing and pumps of the present'invention inserted therein.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the sliding valve pump of thepresent invention. I

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view of a well casingwith the tubing and pumps of the present invention inserted therein.

FIG. 4 is an elevational view of the sliding valve pump of thepresentinvention. I

FIG. 5 is an end view of the sliding valve pump.

I FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 6--6 in FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional viewof the slidingvalve pump chamber showing the drop check valve in its raised position.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 8--8 of the FIG. 4. vv

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the lower valve end portion of thesliding valve pump.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the standing valve body showing thedrop valve located therein.

Referring now to the drawings, a preferred form of the pumping system isdiagramatically shown in FIG. 1

' as including a deep well 4 having acasing 5 and a casing head 7 at thesurface of the ground Over the well 4 is a rod reciprocating apparatus10 which acts to support' and vertically reciprocate a sucker rod 12whose function it is to operate the plurality of insert pumps 15 whichform the subject matter of the present invention. A flange or collar 17suspends from the casinghead 7 a string of tubing or a working barrel 19which is disposed in the well substantially coaxially with and inside ofthe well casing 5.

The system of the present invention includes a plurality ofreciprocating pumping units or travelling valves 15, a typical one ofwhich is shown in detail in FIGS. 2 and 4 through 8. Each of thetravelling valves include upper and lower valve ends 20 and 21respectively which are interconnected by a cylindrical valve plunger 23.The interconnection is made by means of the inter-.

nally threaded ends of the plunger 23 being threadingly engaged with theexteriorly threaded ends of the upper and lower valve ends 20 and 21.Between the said ends and interiorly of the valve plunger 23 is disposeda reciprocably movable check valve 25. The drop valve is preferrably ofsolid metal construction selected from a group of metals which arecompatible with Teflon or similar plastic material which can be used toform a 2 wear resistant valve seat 27 in the valve end 21. The checkvalve includes a body portion having a blunt tapered nose 28 extendingbelow the seating area in order to retard quick downward movement of thevalve and prevent the valve from closing too rapidly. Serving as guidesfor the valve within the chamber defined by the interior of the plunger23 are four equi -spaced radial fins 29 which are integral with thevalve body 25 and which are dimensioned so as to slide easily within thechamber. The valve body 25 is also tapered on its top side so as toprovide a maximum area path for fluid flow around the valve when it isin the open position as shown in FIGS. 2, 4 and 7. Fluid enters thetravelling valve through a plurality of intake ports 31, inclined to thelongitudinal axis of the valve, as shown in FIG. 9, in the bottom endvalve member 21 and is discharged from the valve through a plurality ofinclined exhaust ports 33 disposed in the upper end valve member 20. Theexhaust and intake ports may also be slightly angulated with respect tothe longitudinal-center line of the pump in order to provide an upwardspiraling motion to the fluid passing through the ports, thus tending tokeep solids in suspension in the fluid instead of permitting the sandand other solids to settle into the valve seat and valve shouldersurfaces to cause ,wear.

The concentric annular. collars 35 which are provided on both valve ends20 and 21 are sized to provide a relatively small clearance with theinterior of the working barrel 19 so that the traveling valve 15 acts asa fluid-packed piston as the sucker rod 12 is reciprocated.

In order to more fully describe the operation of the pump 15, fluid flowarrows with accompanying reference letters in balloons are provided inFIG. 2. The fluid tobe lifted is present at A'which has an area forfluid flow equal to the inside tubing area less the sucker rod area.Fluid flows to Band through the intake ports 31 to the intake throat Cand hence between-the fins 29 of the check valve 25 at D and into theupper throat E. The fluids exit from the piston chamber through theexhaust ports 33 at F. The foregoing flow offluid takes place as thesucker rod l2moves downwardly in the well thus causing the check valve25 to open. When the sucker rod 12 moves upwardly, a low pressure iscreated below the check valve 25 and the valve closes thus providing nopath for reverse fluid flow and a consequent lifting of the fluids whichhave become trapped on the topside of the check valve 25.

One of the primary objectives of the invention is obtained through thedesign and formulation of the check valve 25. The tapered top portion ofthe valve in cooperation with the spaced apart fins provide a greaterarea for fluid passage than conventional ball valves operatingwithin thesame sized tubing and consequently there is provided a greatervolumetric efficiency and higher pumping capacity.

Preferrably, the travelling valves 15 which have been individuallydescribed are interconnected in a string at approximately 500 to 1,000foot intervals in order that the valve or valves near the bottom of thewell are not required to lift the entire column of fluid. Each valvelifts only the fluid which exists between that valve and the one aboveit. Thus, it is seen that the sucker rod requires less tensile strengthat or nearthe bottom of the well than it does at or near the top whichadvantage effects a savings and economy in the sucker rod elements.

The outside diameter of the travelling valve is such as will provide aclearance with the inside diameter of the working barrel, thus providinga fluid packed piston when the rod is reciprocated.

The system of the present invention is completed by providing at thebottom end of the tubing a foot valve or standing valve 41. Basically,the standing valve is similar to the travelling valve except that theupper valve end 43 is exteriorly threaded in order to be attachable tothe working barrel or tubing and fitting. Obviously, the standing valve,being attached to the tubing, does not reciprocate with the sucker rodbut acts in the capacity of the well known foot valve.

1 claim:

1. A bottom hole pump for fluid wells actuated by a pump rod stringcomprising:

a plunger having a hollow tubular interior terminated at its dischargeand intake ends respectively with an inwardly projecting annularshoulder surrounding a discharge port and an annular valve seatsurrounding an intake port;

pump rod string connecting means extending longitudinally from theintake and discharge ends of said plunger, each of said connecting meanshaving inclined apertures providing communication between said intakeand discharge ports with the annular space surrounding the pump rodstring;

a plurality of radially equi-spaced guide fins carrying a valve body anddisposed for reciprocal and rotatable movement within said plunger andwherein said valve is adapted to sealingly engage said seat.

2. A bottom hole pump for fluid wells comprising:

a tubular plunger forming a valve cage;

valve seat means fonning caps for each end of said valve cage, each ofsaid caps having reduced diameter extensions exteriorally of said valvecage and coaxially with the longitudinal axis of said cage and whereeach of said extensions is provided with obliquely inclined elongatedbores which communicate through said valve seats with the interior ofsaid cage;

a valve member adapted to sealingly engage one of said seat means anddisposed within said valve cage for reciprocate movement therein; and

a plurality of radially spaced apart guide fins carried by said valvemember, the upward extensions of which are adapted to engage the otherof said seat means and said fins being in free movable contact with theinside surface of said cage.

1. A bottom hole pump for fluid wells actuated by a pump rod stringcomprising: a plunger having a hollow tubular interior terminated at itsdischarge and intake ends respectively with an inwardly projectingannular shoulder surrounding a discharge port and an annular valve seatsurrounding an intake port; pump rod string connecting means extendinglongitudinally from the intake and discharge ends of said plunger, eachof said connecting means having inclined apertures providingcommunication between said intake and discharge ports with the annularspace surrounding the pump rod string; a plurality of radiallyequi-spaced guide fins carrying a valve body and disposed for reciprocaland rotatable movement within said plunger and wherein said valve isadapted to sealingly engage said seat.
 2. A bottom hole pump for fluidwells comprising: a tubular plunger forming a valve cage; valve seatmeans forming caps for each end of said valve cage, each of said capshaving reduced diameter extensions exteriorally of said valve cage andcoaxially with the longitudinal axis of said cage and where each of saidextensions is provided with obliquely inclined elongated bores whichcommunicate through said valve seats with the interior of said cage; avalve member adapted to sealingly engage one of said seat means anddisposed within said valve cage for reciprocate movement therein; and aplurality of radially spaced apart guide fins carried by said valvemember, the upward extensions of which are adapted to engage the otherof said seat means and said fins being in free movable contact with theinside surface of said cage.